On May 23d and 24th, 2015, representatives of the National Council of Religious Communities in Bulgaria (NCRCB) paid a visit to the Vatican. The board members and the secretaries of NCRCB were part of the delegation for the official visit of Prime Minister Mr. Boyko Borisov to the Italian Republic. Our visit at the Vatican was in response to the invitation of His Eminence Cardinal Tauran, Prefect of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue and the cooperation of H. E. Monsignor Brian Farrell, Secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity and H.E. Monsignor Cyril Vasil, Secretary of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches.
On Saturday, May 23d, 2015 the NCRCB delegation paid a visit to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, where it was warmly welcomed by H. E. Monsignor Luis Ladaria Ferrer — Secretary of the Congregation and professor at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. Monsignor Ladaria spoke about his mission in this Decastery in preserving the purity of the faith and the doctrine of the Church. After we told him about the origin of NCRCB, he welcomed the idea of its establishment and activities, sharing with us his concern and desire for the well-being of humanity through peaceful and fruitful cooperation between religions. The representatives of NCRCB gave Monsignor Ladaria as a gift a commemorative plaque and expressed ideas for joint initiatives.
The second meeting was with H. E. Monsignor Mansuetto Bianchi, Ecclesiastical Assistant General of Italian Catholic Action, in fact he is responsible for the inter-Christian and inter-Religious Dialogue on behalf of the Italian Bishops Conference. There was a discussion of the need for cooperation of churches and religions in front of the challenges of the modern world, uniting their efforts around common issues such as human dignity, environment protection, preservation of the family, the struggle for justice and peace, social care for the needy, poor and immigrants.
On Sunday, May 24th, for the feast of Pentecost a festive liturgy was celebrated in the Basilique of St. Peter by His Holiness Pope Francis. Thanks to the assistance of the Apostolic Nuncio in Bulgaria H.E. Monsignor Anselmo Guido Pecorari, the representatives of NCRCB were invited to attend the liturgy in the first row in front of the central altar.
This allowed us to be part and to experience the solemnity of the liturgy very close to His Holiness Pope Francis and to the Prefect of the Pontifical House His Eminence Cardinal Georg Gaenswein.
The delegation of NCRCB had also a meeting with Mrs. Yolande Iliano — President of the International Interfaith Organization „Religions for Pеаce — Europe”, with headquarters in Brussels, which NCRCB is a member of.
Prime Minister Mr. Boiko Borissov had a brief conversation with the representatives of NCRCB. He expressed his interest in the work and activities of NCRCB and shared with us memories of his previous visits to the City — State Vatican, when he was accompanied by the former Secretary of State H.E. Cardinal Angelo Sodano.
24.05.2015
NCRCB